The first thing to say is that the benefits will vary from member to member.
One of the strengths of AICS is its diversity. Members have many different
specialities and work in a number of different ways. Probably the thing they
have most in common is that they are all involved in running a business as
well as being technically skilled. This means that they all have to find work,
deal with the occasional awkward client, keep the Revenue and the VAT man
happy, etc.

Getting work

Of the common challenges members face, finding work is probably the most pressing.
AICS can help with this in a number of ways. We do advertise the Association
to prospective clients, and promote the AICS logo together with the value
of doing business with AICS members. We do get leads that are passed on to
members by email. While not high in number, it only takes one introduction
that leads to a long term client relationship to more than justify membership.
Probably just as imortant, work is also passed directly from member to member.
It is much easier to pass work to another member who is known to you personally;
no one wants to introduce a client to an unsatisfactory supplier.

Having said this, it would be unwise to rely on getting large amounts of work
through AICS. We are not a cheap alternative to a contract agency.

Taking part

As with all organisations, you will get far more out of it by taking part.
This may mean coming to meetings, contributing to the discussions on our email
group, writing pieces for the Members' Newsletter, or just keeping in touch
with other members in your technical and/or geographic area.

The discussions on the email group range from highly specific and technical
queries, to questions about tax, insurance and general business matters. As
a member you have access to the collective experience of other members in
a wide range of subjects.